PC Magazine tests K-5

gazonk · 02-27-2012, 11:25 AM

...and finds POOR high ISO performance? Are they nuts?

Pentax K-5 Review & Rating | PCMag.com

Winder · 02-27-2012, 11:32 AM

I'm sure they are only looking at JPEGs. The Pentax JPEG engine is not as good as Nikon or Canon. If they look at RAW the K-5 would have been a hands down winner over.

**boriscleto** · 02-27-2012, 11:36 AM - **1 Like**

Who cares? It's PCMagazine.

Mareket · 02-27-2012, 11:36 AM

They don't like the K-5's subpar kit lens and poor low light capabilities... They reckon the D300s has better low light noise performance. Wat.

And they mark it down for an underperforming kit lens when the kit lens is VERY highly regarded (and is excellent in my experience).

This makes no sense at all. And the price shown is ridiculous. You can get a K-5 in the UK for around £750 with the kit lens.

Silly reviewers. To be fair, it sounds like it was written a fair while ago, and only released now for some strange reason.

**paulh** · 02-27-2012, 11:42 AM

Originally posted by Winder

I'm sure they are only looking at JPEGs. The Pentax JPEG engine is not as good as Nikon or Canon. If they look at RAW the K-5 would have been a hands down winner over.

That must be it - RAW isn't even mentioned in the review. They give the K-r higher marks for high-iso than the K5, but it only gets 3 stars from them as well : Pentax K-r Review & Rating | PCMag.com Well, it's a computer magazine anyway, can't really expect a thorough, in-depth review.

**boriscleto** · 02-27-2012, 11:45 AM

The first thing you have to ask when considering a magazine review is "Who are their advertisers?" I bet Canon and Nikon spend more with PCMagazine than Pentax or Olympus.

Docrwm · 02-27-2012, 11:47 AM

PCMagazine is a dinosaur that routinely tells people that the next iteration of Microsoft whatever will be absolutely astounding and with no bugs!

If you believe them about MS products, well then their review of an item outside their scope of skills and ability should also be easy enough to swallow.

Patajac · 02-27-2012, 11:51 AM

The reviewers photography references sum it all.

Quote:

Jim Fisher is the digital camera analyst for the PCMag consumer electronics reviews team. He is a graduate of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he concentrated on documentary video production. Jim's interest in photography really took off when he borrowed his father's Hasselblad 501C and light meter in 2007. He honed his writing skills at B&H Photo, where he wrote thousands upon thousands of product descriptions, as well as the occasional blog post and product review. His father is still waiting for the return of the Hasselblad.

Mister Horrible · 02-27-2012, 11:59 AM

Remember, PCMag = CNET.

Neither group is known for it's intellectual or editorial prowess. Remember when they complained about Sony's "when timing is everything" ad? And, in the process, exposing their ignorance of photographic history and basic reading comprehension? How hard is it to understand an ad, fercrissake?

Bramela · 02-27-2012, 12:05 PM

I reckon that reviewer knows about as much about photography as I know about the courting/mating rituals of a hippopotamus.

Docrwm · 02-27-2012, 12:09 PM

Originally posted by Patajac

The reviewers photography references sum it all.

Thousands & thousands of product descriptions? Really? Don't manufacturers PR departments (sadly with some notable exceptions

) do that for them?

If you want to read more of Mr. Fishers amazing insights into photography and learn at the feet, here is a list of his many Blog posts at B&H
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/insights/search/node/jim%20fisher

He lists his gear as:
Leica M8
Leica M3
Leica CL
Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH
Leica 50mm Summicron Dual Range

No mention of Father's Hassablad...hmmm.....

Adam · 02-27-2012, 12:14 PM

This isn't news or a rumor- it's a review. Moved to the K-5 forum.

**boriscleto** · 02-27-2012, 12:20 PM

Originally posted by Docrwm

Thousands & thousands of product descriptions? Really? Don't manufacturers PR departments (sadly with some notable exceptions

) do that for them?

If you want to read more of Mr. Fishers amazing insights into photography and learn at the feet, here is a list of his many Blog posts at B&H
Search | BH Insights

He lists his gear as:
Leica M8
Leica M3
Leica CL
Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH
Leica 50mm Summicron Dual Range

No mention of Father's Hassablad...hmmm.....

I think it's obvious that he pawned the Hassy to buy the Leicas

Docrwm · 02-27-2012, 12:22 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

I think it's obvious that he pawned the Hassy to buy the Leicas

I don't know. I know Hassy's are pricey (like $1500 or so for the Hasselblad 501C ) but he's got like $12k in camera gear according to his list. I didn't realize that B&H gave such a substantial discount to product describers. Wow.

Mister Horrible · 02-27-2012, 12:38 PM

Don't matter what gear he's got or don't got. Bully for him if he shoots with a Hassy, two leicas, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Here's some facts: he complains that the $1200 K-5 (retail srp from Pentaximaging) has worse ISO than the $1600 D300s (SRP from NikonUSA.) Then he compains that the K-5 is too expensive.

It's that kind of muddy, bubble-headed thinking that drove me away from Cnet, PCMag, and Ziff Davis publications in general back in the late 90's.

02-27-2012, 11:25 AM	#1
gazonk Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oslo area, Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,746	PC Magazine tests K-5 ...and finds POOR high ISO performance? Are they nuts? Pentax K-5 Review & Rating \| PCMag.com

02-27-2012, 12:09 PM	#11
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by Patajac The reviewers photography references sum it all. Thousands & thousands of product descriptions? Really? Don't manufacturers PR departments (sadly with some notable exceptions) do that for them? If you want to read more of Mr. Fishers amazing insights into photography and learn at the feet, here is a list of his many Blog posts at B&H http://www.bhphotovideo.com/insights/search/node/jim%20fisher He lists his gear as: Leica M8 Leica M3 Leica CL Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH Leica 50mm Summicron Dual Range No mention of Father's Hassablad...hmmm..... Last edited by Docrwm; 02-27-2012 at 12:18 PM.

02-27-2012, 12:14 PM	#12
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	This isn't news or a rumor- it's a review. Moved to the K-5 forum. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

02-27-2012, 12:20 PM	#13
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by Docrwm Thousands & thousands of product descriptions? Really? Don't manufacturers PR departments (sadly with some notable exceptions) do that for them? If you want to read more of Mr. Fishers amazing insights into photography and learn at the feet, here is a list of his many Blog posts at B&H Search \| BH Insights He lists his gear as: Leica M8 Leica M3 Leica CL Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH Leica 50mm Summicron Dual Range No mention of Father's Hassablad...hmmm..... I think it's obvious that he pawned the Hassy to buy the Leicas

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02-27-2012, 11:32 AM	#2
Winder Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,617	I'm sure they are only looking at JPEGs. The Pentax JPEG engine is not as good as Nikon or Canon. If they look at RAW the K-5 would have been a hands down winner over.

02-27-2012, 11:36 AM - 1 Like	#3
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Who cares? It's PCMagazine.

02-27-2012, 11:36 AM	#4
Mareket Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Chester Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 719	They don't like the K-5's subpar kit lens and poor low light capabilities... They reckon the D300s has better low light noise performance. Wat. And they mark it down for an underperforming kit lens when the kit lens is VERY highly regarded (and is excellent in my experience). This makes no sense at all. And the price shown is ridiculous. You can get a K-5 in the UK for around £750 with the kit lens. Silly reviewers. To be fair, it sounds like it was written a fair while ago, and only released now for some strange reason.

02-27-2012, 11:42 AM	#5
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,258	Originally posted by Winder I'm sure they are only looking at JPEGs. The Pentax JPEG engine is not as good as Nikon or Canon. If they look at RAW the K-5 would have been a hands down winner over. That must be it - RAW isn't even mentioned in the review. They give the K-r higher marks for high-iso than the K5, but it only gets 3 stars from them as well : Pentax K-r Review & Rating \| PCMag.com Well, it's a computer magazine anyway, can't really expect a thorough, in-depth review.

02-27-2012, 11:45 AM	#6
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	The first thing you have to ask when considering a magazine review is "Who are their advertisers?" I bet Canon and Nikon spend more with PCMagazine than Pentax or Olympus.

02-27-2012, 11:47 AM	#7
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	PCMagazine is a dinosaur that routinely tells people that the next iteration of Microsoft whatever will be absolutely astounding and with no bugs! If you believe them about MS products, well then their review of an item outside their scope of skills and ability should also be easy enough to swallow.

02-27-2012, 11:51 AM	#8
Patajac Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 241	The reviewers photography references sum it all. Quote: Jim Fisher is the digital camera analyst for the PCMag consumer electronics reviews team. He is a graduate of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he concentrated on documentary video production. Jim's interest in photography really took off when he borrowed his father's Hasselblad 501C and light meter in 2007. He honed his writing skills at B&H Photo, where he wrote thousands upon thousands of product descriptions, as well as the occasional blog post and product review. His father is still waiting for the return of the Hasselblad.

02-27-2012, 11:59 AM	#9
Mister Horrible Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 100	Remember, PCMag = CNET. Neither group is known for it's intellectual or editorial prowess. Remember when they complained about Sony's "when timing is everything" ad? And, in the process, exposing their ignorance of photographic history and basic reading comprehension? How hard is it to understand an ad, fercrissake?

02-27-2012, 12:05 PM	#10
Bramela Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Newcastle Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,284	I reckon that reviewer knows about as much about photography as I know about the courting/mating rituals of a hippopotamus.

02-27-2012, 12:22 PM	#14
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by boriscleto I think it's obvious that he pawned the Hassy to buy the Leicas I don't know. I know Hassy's are pricey (like $1500 or so for the Hasselblad 501C ) but he's got like $12k in camera gear according to his list. I didn't realize that B&H gave such a substantial discount to product describers. Wow.

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02-27-2012, 12:38 PM	#15
Mister Horrible Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 100	Don't matter what gear he's got or don't got. Bully for him if he shoots with a Hassy, two leicas, and a partridge in a pear tree. Here's some facts: he complains that the $1200 K-5 (retail srp from Pentaximaging) has worse ISO than the $1600 D300s (SRP from NikonUSA.) Then he compains that the K-5 is too expensive. It's that kind of muddy, bubble-headed thinking that drove me away from Cnet, PCMag, and Ziff Davis publications in general back in the late 90's.